Yael's Holy Land Reflections

A Lesson from a Jewish Holiday the World Could Use Right Now

Tonight at sundown, the Jewish people will begin to observe Tisha B’Av.

On Tisha B’Av, we remember the atrocities committed against the Jewish people throughout history. Chief among these is the destruction of the first and second temples in Jerusalem, as well as the exile of the Jews of Israel who were dispersed to “the four corners of the earth” in the first century.

Tisha B’Av is a day of mourning, considered the saddest day on the Jewish calendar. We fast, and we refrain from activities considered pleasurable. It is customary to sit on the floor, just as we do when sitting shiva after someone dies. In synagogue, we read from the biblical book of Lamentations, which describes the destruction of Jerusalem and the first temple.

This year, the Jewish people will certainly not be mourning alone. The entire world is hurting…